The European Pain Federation EFIC is pleased to share recent news and updates from our 38 national chapters below.
France
What’s new in the French EFIC Chapter?
1. New councillor for the French Pain Society
Valeria Martinez, the actual president of the French pain Society succeeds Luis Garcia Larrea as French councillor for EFIC.
2. A rich political comeback
The French pain society is preparing for a busy political meeting agenda to defend a new pain plan with the new government.
The French pain society sounds the alarm with figures from its demographic survey performed in the 245 French chronic pain services. It appears that the retirement of a quarter of pain doctors is expected within 5 years, threatening the perennity of several pain services.
3. The last straight line before the French pain Congress at Lille on 16-18 November
This year, the French pain congress will take place in Lille, it will open its doors to the public with the first “Pain talk”. For this event, the French Pain society works closely with the young Canadian researchers’ network.
4. Other French pain manifestations
A number of other scientific and educational manifestations will be organised by the SFETD in 2022, to which we would like to attract your attention:
9 September 2022 – Douleur et Cancer / Pain and Cancer – FIAP Jean Monnet, Paris
22 September 2022 – Douleur et dyscommunication – Hôpital Européen G Pompidou, Paris
Hungary
National News from the Hungarian Pain Society
There is no pain specialist training in Hungary yet, but we consider it important to teach and transfer modern knowledge. Our 3-semester multidisciplinary, methodological training under the title “Chronic Pain Therapy”, accredited by the Semmelweis University of Budapest (Accred. No: SE-TK/2022.II/00124) has started (Accredited 50 creditpoints). The first semester of 40-hour training begins in September, Our speakers are excellent representatives of their respective fields and have to take on this pioneering task.
- September (online): Chronic pain general, basics
- October (online): Principles of chronic pain therapy. Clinics I.
- October (online): Psychotherapy, Clinics II: Chronic haedache
- November (precongress day): Clinics III-IV: Chronic neuropathic pain I-II.
We have submitted the training material for the second semester for accreditation to the Training Center of Semmelwes University.
2. Our Society created five working groups, sections from its members, which will deal with the critical points of Hungarian pain therapy.
Their main tasks are to identify gaps and build consensus between different disciplines and health policy representatives.
These sections are:
- Section of Chronic Pain Specialist Training (coordination of interdisciplinary consensus on curriculum and exam)
- Pediatric Pain Therapy Section (for the availability of modern chronic pain treatment in childhood)
- Psychological Section (emphasizing the role of the psychologist in chronic pain)
- Section on Equal Opportunities for Patient Medication Support (Pharmacological Section)
- Section for fair value funding for pain therapy (Financing Section)
3. The program for our 2022 Congress (4-5. November, Szeged, Hotel Novotel) has been completed and is being accredited at Semmelweis University of Budapest (Accred. No: SE-80734).
The main topics are:
Stress and pain
- Theory of pain perception and consciousness (Császár-Nagy N, PhD)
- Correlation and clinical significance of chronic pain, chronic stress and depression (Prof. Czéh B, MD, DSc)
- Brain structures and common pathways of stress and pain (Puskár Z, MD, PhD)
- Common mediators and molecular mechanisms of stress and pain (Sántha P, MD, PhD)
- The role of neurons and glial cells in the underlaying mechanisms of stress and pain (Holló K, MD, PhD)
- Animal testing options for the relationships and comorbidities of chronic pain, stress and depression (Borbély É, MD, PhD)
Translating pain knowledge to practice (The IASP „Globar Year 2022)
- Translational medicine (Prof. Hegyi P, MD, DSc)
- The role of translating pain knowledge to practice
…in the treatment of rheumatological pain (Prof Kovács L, MD, DSc)
…in the treatment of oncological pain (Prof. Hideghéthy K MD, DSc)
…in the tretament of chronic migrain (Prof. Tajti J. MD, DSc)
…in the neurosurgical treatment of chronic pain (Kis D. MD, PhD)
- Neuroplasticity, epigenetics and pain at the intersection of hypnotherapy (Császár-Nagy N. PhD)
- Practical application of the latest research results in the treatment of childhood pain (Major J. MD, PhD)
- The place of rehabilitation medicine in pain relief (Fazekas G. MD, Med Habil, PhD)
Cannabinoids and strong opioids
- The role of cannabinoids in the treatment of chronic pain (Prof. Pethő G. MD, DSc)
- Practice of opioid rotation in chronic pain therapy (Almási Gy R. Med Habil, PhD, EDPM)
- Real and suspected side effects of µ-opioid receptor agonist opioids used in chronic pain (Budai E. MD, FIPP)
- International effects of strong opioid endemics in North America on strong opioid use (Laskói B. MD)
- Free choice lectures
4. We made our website more modern and informative.
https://fajdalom-tarsasag.hu
5. Representation of our Society at the congress of the Hungarian Neurology Sociaty with 3 lectures on June 17 2022 in Budapest
Helyes, Zs et al: Development of a drug candidate molecule with a complex mechanism of action for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain. University of Pécs
Szok, D: The latest classification of chronic pain. University of Szeged
Erőss, L: Modern neurosurgical techniques in the treatment of chronic pain.
National Institute of Mental, Neurological and Neurosurgery, Budapest
Italy
45th National Congress of the Italian Association for the Study of Pain September 22 2022
Presentation of the Manifesto on chronic pain
In the previous issue of the EFIC National Chapter update, we announced the topics and the dates of the 45th National Congress of the Italian Association for the Study of Pain (September 22-24), we now have the pleasure of giving further details about the Inaugural Ceremony which will take place on September 22, in the beautiful Sala dei Baroni of the Maschio Angioino, in Naples. After a Lecture by prof. Fabrizio Benedetti on “Placebo: an adventurous journey between mind and body”, a Round Table will present the Manifesto on chronic pain.
The Manifesto on chronic pain was drawn up, on the initiative of Sandoz, by AISD – Italian Association for the Study of Pain; ISAL Foundation – Institute for Research and Training on Pain; SIAARTI – Italian Society of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care; SIMG – Italian Society of General Medicine and Primary Care; Active Citizenship; ONDA Foundation – National Observatory on Women’s and Gender Health; FederDolore-SICD – Italian Society of Pain Clinicians.
In Italy the Law 38/2010 recognized chronic pain as a pathology that requires its own specific network of assistance and care, to which citizens have the right to access. Nonetheless, more than ten years after its approval, 72.1% of citizens do not know the Law and 40% of people are unaware of the treatments that can be implemented, despite the fact that almost 90% of painful syndromes are treatable. But despite the law and the availability of dedicated centers in hospitals, public information and awareness of the possibilities of assistance for people with chronic pain remain unsatisfactory.
As underlined by prof. Caterina Pace, AISD President, «The chronicity network is based on complexity and needs to be reorganized, with specific paths able to take charge of the patient and to make a detailed analysis of the efficiency and appropriateness of the treatment, of the outcomes and of the paths. The adoption of shared and national organizational models and care pathways should absolutely overcome the differences between the Italian Regions which today represents a serious criticality.
Within the Health Authorities there should be multidisciplinary teams able to bring together all the skills necessary for the management of the patient with chronic pain and in continuous communication with the territorial network having as a reference the GP and vice versa, to reach that hospital-territory continuity that it needed.
The first problem to be solved will be the lack of communication between all the actors involved in the process of taking charge (GP, Pain Therapist, Pharmacist, Hospital etc…); in fact, a network between the various professionals would offer the patient the guarantee of access to services and continuity of care. And we cannot talk about communication without providing an Electronic Health Record, which, containing all the patient’s data, simplifies his path and that of the clinicians involved.»
45th National Congress of the Italian Association for the Study of Pain
Naples, 22-24 September 2022
Online: www.congressoaisd.it
Moldova
Moldovan Society for the Study and Management of Pain
The pandemic was a great obstacle for all the scientific societies to continue the elaborated educational activities and plans. On February 24, another unexpected development had come. The aggressive war that Russia started against Ukraine left us speechless. Nevertheless, our small Pain Society in Moldova donated humanitarian aid to our brave neighbors.
A few years ago, on behalf of the Moldovan Society for the Study and Management of Pain, we signed a collaboration agreement with pain societies in Ukraine and Romania. Still, the gravity of the circumstances didn’t stop us from common plans and projects.
Moldova became a transit region for the Ukrainian refugees. In the first days of the war, we saw an incredible number of potential patients. Refugees remaining in the country were able to receive the necessary medical care, including oncological treatment, labor support, and joint prosthetics.
Chronic pain is a worldwide problem. The necessity to resolve it in conditions of war is increasing, as the level of injured civilians and military. Together with colleagues Ukrainian Society of regional analgesia and Pain Therapy, from Vinnytsia, Ukraine, we initiated a survey of chronic pain patients (refugees). This is a short online survey, without using any personal data.
We aim to analyze the changes in the progression of the pain level and the links with PTSD, that all of them are suffering from. After seeing the trends, we will elaborate on a list of recommendations for pain specialists and refugees-patients with chronic pain. Obviously, we will get some long-term outcomes in these patients. This is why it is important to track pain levels.
In less than three weeks, we collected the data for 222 patients (at the moment of August, 30). Our responders are mainly 25-64 years old, 79% of them suffered directly from russian missiles. Preliminary – 75% of them have severe PTSD, which potentiates their chronic pain. Despite their primary chronic pain diagnosis and comorbidities, responders score their pain level (using NRS) as “7”, “8”, and “9” felt in the last 4 weeks. These parameters lead us to the idea, of how critical is the situation.
We continue to collect data. This is why it is important for us to distribute our questionnaire in Europe countries in refugee communities. Please, find below a QR code and a link for the google-form for our questionnaire.
The crucial moment for this research will be the elaborating of recommendations for these patients. We kindly ask for any support that you can offer us. We will be glad to accept international experts in PTSD and chronic pain in our research team to help us.
https://forms.gle/2qLRTs6aCDWTYjX28
Switzerland
SPS & SAPPM Annual Meeting 2022
Thursday, 10. November 2022 und Friday, 11. November 2022 in Bern
Topic: Stress, Pain, Sleep
Congress Website: https://sappm-sps-2022.ch/de
